The poem Le Loupgarou by derrek Walcot is a shakespearian sonnet.

The poetic voice is an outside, third person party looking in on the sad encounter of Mr. Le Brun. This poem tells the tale of old LeBrun, a man that was rumoured by the townspeople to be a loupgarou. Old women would relax under eaves and gossip about Le Brun, while literally shutting him out of their lives with their closing windows. The prevailing gossip, in this poem, is that he transformed into a hound one night, but was dealt a wound by his own watchman. He then lugged his entrails back to his doorstep, almost dead. Poetic devices
1. ALLITERATION Lines 1-3: This alliteration gives the reader a visual imagery of the manner in which the gossip about Le Brun spread. A thread is thin and fine and can weave itself in any crevice, sometimes in a very non-linear and sinuous manner. This describes the way in which the gossip spread. It managed to touch the whole village in an almost insiduous, and complete, manner. Line 5: This literary device speaks to the results of the gossip. Le Brun is alienated from the people of the town. Their fascination with him, however, is evident by the fact that they slowly shut their

jalouses/windows. The lack of speed implies that they are watching him, while also alienating him. Lines 17-21: This alliteration highlights the severity of the Loupgarou's injuries. You can almost see and hear the wetness of the blood, as well as see the entrails trailing wet through the use of this device. 2. OXYMORON The words 'Christian' and 'witches, placed together, emphasizes the dual nature of the women in the village. They are good Christian women who mean no harm, but their fear of the 'difference' that they sense in Le Brun (contributed by his mode of dress), leads them to react in an unchristian manner, like witches, in dealing with him.

3. IRONY It is ironic that Le Brun's own watchman dealt him a lethal blow. 4. PARADOX This statement appears nonsensical at first, but actually makes sense in the long run. The loupgarou is, in fact, a man who is leading a half life as man and beast, so he is not really 'living'. The fact that he can pass on the 'gift' of becoming a werewolf clarifies the fact that Le Brun is actually 'licensed to sell sick fruit', or pass on his sick 'gift'.